It appears to me from this post and the other posting I read that you don't really have a clue and have not clearly or completely thought this through. Nor do you seem to have any type of detailed business plan that entails all the projected expenses you will incur to set up a working studio. If you are indeed serious about doing this, then I suggest you take a few hundred bucks and hire a qualified professional to help you think this out conmpletely and fully before you even spend one dollar on gear. Something this important and big requires more than crusing the net or a newsgroup for casual info. You are only setting yourself up for failure and regret by doing it in this half ass way. Take this advice as you will...

I have to agree with Gaff on this.I've read through both of your sets of threads and was prepared to answer all your questions concerning a Ghost console(which I own),but I dont get a sense of direction on your part.This manifested itself in the fact that in your other post, on my forum, you said you were going to have to sell gear in order to buy gear of a totally different nature.And the questions you're asking are about fairly radically different pieces of gear as far as sound goes.You also have not stated even once what kind of RECORDER you're going to be using.This is a very important part of the recording process and is generally what will determine what type and amounts of outboard gear you are going to need. I'm not trying to be harsh here or discourage you in any way,but you indicated that this would be a commercial facility of sorts, and there is a lot to consider when charging someone for services rendered.If its for you in your own basement and you're looking for a start-up kind of system then the parameters change somewhat.Consider this before you make up your mind.

First off, If you really knew what sounds good and or had any real working experience or experience with gear, you wouldn't need to ask the basic questions that you've asked.

Second, most if not all Full Sail grads are not even qualified to sweep the floor in a real studio. I wouldn't trust one of those flunkys to wind up a mic cord. I sure hope your not comparing what they do when they wank away in class to what you may be able to do and think that is anything to be proud of. And I surely would not be taking seriously any gear advice from any of those hacks and wankers no matter how much gear they are exposed to or how many buzz words they learn to spit out.

Third, there are many gear rental places all over the world and throughout the USA. Search the net a little and you can find them. The L.A. CA phone book should have at a least a dozen or more to choose from.

Fourth, If you think you have it all figured out and don't want to listen or be rational with reason, then go for it. You about to learn a real lesson about the audio and music business that you won't soon forget.

heeeeeeeey.... this dude is not a good representation of Full Sail. I am very proud to be a grad. I worked my tail off to be able to afford their program, and I worked my tail off to get as much out of it as possible. I can think of plenty of airheads I met while there, but there are plenty of us grads out here that can sweep the hell out of any studio.

...there are plenty of us grads out here that can sweep the hell out of any studio.

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Well, there are a few exceptions to every rule. But there is no way you can convince me that just because you go a place like Full Sail that you come out as an educated engineer fully ready to take on the world.

...there are plenty of us grads out here that can sweep the hell out of any studio.

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Well, there are a few exceptions to every rule. But there is no way you can convince me that just because you go a place like Full Sail that you come out as an educated engineer fully ready to take on the world.

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ready to take on the world, yes!

as a full blown engineer? not QUITE yet, but every single day I am moving a little closer.

I know this wasn't what this post started out as, but I have to say this here anyway.

I will be graduating from Full Sail in May. I'm at the top of my class, but more importantly, I have experience and know what the hell I'm doing 99.9% of the time. The sad thing is that the school is so d**n easy that a blind & deaf 10 year old could graduate from the audio program. The fact that many studio owners and managers aren't happy with the grads they get from there just means one thing - they don't know how to hire the right people!

Please do me a favor - reconize that there are talanted and educated people that come from Full Sail. We are simply not the majority. Don't give the rest of us a bad rep because you can't conduct a interview!

Ok Ace, the fact that you choose to go to Full Fail is proof that you not only don't understand the audio business and what it values in the merits of choosing desireable employees, but that don't have much of a business sense as well. Your top honors for being head chump of the class should earn you the top salary of $8 an hour that you may not even deserve to sweep the floor in a real studio providing you can learn to keep your mouth shut, wind up a mic cord, and know where to fetch the best chow mein or fish taco's at 1:30am.

Ask any working professional studio and you'll learn that places like Full Fail are a complete joke for a vaild education in the audio industry. And it's not because you don't learn things, but it is because of what you learn and how you learn it that they are very poor at as well as the expectations they lead and let you believe that you are qualified for just because you pass their short pathetic little program.

So congradulations. You've made a wise career move. You are now qualified to turn on specific audio equipment that you'll never likely ever own, for a job in a top studio that your still not qualified to work in and that you'll never ever likely work in as a 1st or lead engineer, and are now able to impress people with your vast knowledege of rack gear makes and models, the latest in cool music slang, mis-informed marketing concepts, industry buzz words as well as your total lack of praticle experience. You really should be proud. Now let's see what you do after you get that diploma...

If its true that a "blind and deaf ten-year old" could easily get through the program, it doesnt say a lot for the level that you have achieved now does it.Its no wonder with this spectacular advertisement by the reputed 'head of the class' that owner /operators of professional studios have no confidence at all in selecting grads from such a pool of talent.And Gaffs comments may seem harsh to you ..no doubt because of your outlay of cash and time, but hes telling you a significant truth that they didnt prepare you for at the school...Its a real world...with real rules and good luck to ya....

I wouldnt worry so much about someone elses lack of skills at interveiwing but my own as a person capable of networking and establishing myself in the good favor of those who could help me achieve my goals.It sounds to me that you already have a bit of a chip to carry and that would seem to me, given the community's general opinion of the grads at your school, a second strike.....Look deep into yourself, grasshopper,look deep and become aware.

Gaff is totally correct about what they teach you vs. what a real studio would want from you.

When I was an assistant, I kept my lips ZIPPED!!! I had all the menus memorized, my own coffee machiene and bean grinder, and a bag full of "emergency" items*(tums, spare drum hardware, gtr picks, etc... even a bunch of candles and incense for those vibe heads... ANYTHING that kept the tape rolling!)

*many off James Creer's "assistants bag" list

Thats not to say that what you learn is unimportant, not at all, but most studios already have a GIANT list of engineers they could use that are way more qualified than a noob out of FS or any other school.

I will paraphrase what somone said to me...

If I cant trust you to get me "the best chow mein or fish taco's at 1:30am" correctly, why should trust you with my console?

If I could change anything about FS, I would kill off all their damn ads... I just happened to be living in Orlando, thats how I found out about it...

I liked DaveDog's post regarding Full Sail and addressed to the "Top of the class".

I'm just starting to attend one of those audio schools in New York and believe me there are lots of hacks and DJs out there -- but I think those with the talent and drive ultimately will make it in this business, *with or without* formal schooling!

Going back to school just shows that one is willing to show up to the page, to use a writer's term, not really any gifts, talents or knack for being the next Nile Rodgers.